Foot-operated step-by-step switch



De.20, l49 J. P. MARTINKA,

FOOT-OPERATED STEP-BY-STEP SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 24, 1947 Fig.

Inventor John P. Mari/Ma B] and Dee. 20, 19 49 J. P. MARTINKA 2,491,748

FOOT-OPERATED STEPBY-. STEP SWITCH Filed Nov. 24, 1947 2 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor John P. Mart/Ma Patented Dec. 20, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOOT-OPERATED STEP-BY-STEP SWITCH Application November 24, 1947, Serial No. 787,833

2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in electric switches and more particularly to a master switch for a house circuit whereby a group of lamps may be controlled by a single switch and without interfering with the normal use of the individual controls for the lamps.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a ratcheting switch operated by a plunger which may be installed in a floor for operation by the foot of a person and including a rotatable toothed wheel for actuating a movable contact of the switch to alternately open and close the switch by a step-by-step movement of the toothed member and embodying a construction whereby the switch is held in either its open or closed position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efiicient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a floor showing the switch mounted in position beneath the floor.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the switch housing.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on a line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the rotatable toothed wheel for actuating the movable contact of the switch and embodying double ratchet wheels, and

Figure 6 is a diagram of the electric circuit controlled by the master switch.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein for the purpose of illustration, I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates a switch housing which is preferably constructed of suitable insulation material and in which a shaft 6 is journalled transversely thereof, one end of the shaft projecting outwardly at one side of the housing.

A toothed wheel 1 is rotatably supported on the shaft 6 and is constructed with ratcheting teeth 8. Integrally formed with one end of the wheel 1 is a large ratchet wheel 9 and a small ratchet wheel iii, the ratchet wheel 9 including teeth H which are in radial alignment with the teeth 3 and teeth I2 which are spaced equidistantly between the teeth 8 of the toothed wheel l, as indicated more clearly in Figure 2 of the drawings. The ratio of the small ratchet wheel I0 is equal to the ratio of the larger ratchet wheel 9.

A resilient pawl 13 is secured at one end to one end of the housing 5 and has its free end positioned in engagement with the teeth It and I 2 of the larger ratchet wheel 9 to prevent reverse movement of the wheel.

An annular pawl carrier l4 encloses a small ratchet wheel I0 and is provided with a hub l5 which is secured to the shaft 6 by a set screw [6. A pair of pivoted pawls H are secured within the pawl carrier M at diametrically opposite sides of the ratchet wheel Ill for engagement therewith, the pawls i! being yieldingly held in engagement with the small ratchet wheel by a spring I8.

The shaft 6 is rotated by means of an arm 19 secured at one end to the outer end of the shaft and provided adjacent its free end with a longitudinal slot 20 in which a pin 2| is loosely positioned and carried at the lower end of a plunger 22 which reciprocates vertically through an attaching flange 23 at the top of the housing 5.

The switch housing 5 is secured to the underside of a floor 24 and through which the upper end of the plunger 22 projects, the plunger being provided with a coil spring 25 to return the plunger upwardly after being depressed by the foot of a person. A foot treadle 26 may be provided in an overlying position on the top of the plunger to facilitate actuation thereof by the foot of a person, one end of the treadle being pivoted as at 21 to the floor.

A resilient movable contact actuating arm 28 is secured at one end in the housing 5 to a lug 29 and with its free end in engagement with the teeth of the toothed wheel 8.

The arm 28 bears against a resilient contact 30 which is also secured at one end to the lug 29 and with its free end movable into and out of engagement with an adjustable stationary contact 3| also secured to lug 29. Circuit wires 32 and 33 are attached to the contacts and are included in a house circuit 34 in which a group of lamps 35 are connected having individual switches 35 of conventional construction for individually controlling the lamps.

Either the wheel I or arm 28 may be constructed of insulation material.

pawl I 3 holding the ratchet}! and wheel 1 against, reverse movement with the clrcuit 'in; openi 'or closed position.

Accordingly, one depressing, movement, of

plunger 22 will open the circuit;and the next depressing movement will close the circuit to thus control the entire group of larrms,

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings" it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the de-, vice will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description isyaccordingly.

deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of theinvention the same is susceptible to' certain changes fully comprehended by the'spiritof the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A double-acting intermittently operated switch comprising a toothed member, a ratchet fixed to said member and including teeth radially aligned with the teeth of said member and teeth spaced between the teeth of said member, means for rotating said member in a step-by-step movement, means engaging successive teeth of said ratchet during rotation thereof, a pair of normally spaced contacts, andmeansengaging the teeth of said toothed member for urging said contacts into engagement, said means for rotating said member including a shaft rotatably supporting said member, a pawl carrier mounted on said 'sh'aftfor rotation therewith, a further ratchet fixed to said member. a pawl carried by said carrier engaging saidfu'rther ratchet for rotating said member during rotation of said shaft, and resilienttmeans normally urging said paw1 into engagement with said further ratchet.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said shaft includes a lateral projection, and a foot-op era'ted plunger pivoted to said later-a1 projection.

JOHN P. MARTINKA.

REFERENCES CITED.

The following references are of record in the file ofH-thispatent:

UNITED STATES: PArE 'rs Number Name Date 349,156 Greenleaf Sept, l4;, 1886 1,090,301 Hawkins 1 Mar..17,- 1914, 1,628,222. Berth 1 May,10, 1927= 2,350,967 Nunes June, 6,1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Countryv Date 35,003 Netherlands 1 Feb. 16,;193 5; 

